Fluting and forming machine



Seg-t. 9,A 1930. 5 J, JEssEN ET AL I 1,775,432

FLUTING AND FORMING- MACHINE TTOR'NEY'S I Sept. 9, 1930. J. JESSE-N auf. v 1,175,432

FLUTING AND FORMING MACHINE Fileduuly 21, 192s esheets-Shet 2 Sept. 9, 1930. J. JEssEN ET AL I FLUTING AND FORMING MACHINE Filed July 2l, 1928 8 Shets-Sheet 4 ,6/ im? j i@ J@ @M Rw A Tran/#LVS Sept. 9, 1930. J. .Jl-ESSEN ET M FLUTING AND .FORMING vMAGHIM:

8l 'Sherets-Sheet 5 Filed July 21, 192s /m/rw/b/:S Jamas Jesse/1 James /Marr/h, BJ @1) y @y M ATTQHNEXS Sept. 9,' 1930. vJ, ESSEN Er AL 1,775,432

FLUTING AND FORMING MACHINE Filed Julyzl, 192s s sheets-sheet '6 w l Sym ATToRNEy-a Sept. 9, 1930. J. .laser-:N Er AL FLUTING AND FORMING MACHINE Filed July 2l, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig /a X7/77m* Java/7. Jamas @Marr/?.

` Patented! sept.` e, 193e` y which Will thereafter simultaneously and au- A panying draivingsand will be pointed out in bodyingour invention;

:444i of Fig. 11;

JAMES Jessen 'Ann miens `1?. VMAnnILLfor Minnnniioms,` ivnNNnsorA," essIGNoRs mo MINNnso'rA `AAlpplieathioln Lled 4July Our invention relatesto machines for form# ing indented or luted columns of flexible or bronzdcopper,`zinc, etc.'`

The main object of theinvention 1s to produce a machine to which the material for `thecolumnsis introduced insheet form and tomatically press the desired lutes in the metal and form it into' the Vshape of a column or post.

"A further object is to produce ainachine ofthis class,`that Will be rapid in operation, simple `in construction and cheap of manu-A facture, and which may be readily adjusted to produce different sizes urnns or posts.

Other objects of the y p from the `itollovving description and accomand forms of col.

the annexed-claims." a y i lnA the accompanying drawings, there ha been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to' be 'understood that the invention is not conined Ito the exact features shown as various changes may be made Within the scope of the claims which follow.

"ln the accompanying `drsmfings forming part of this specilication,

Figure l is a plan View of a machine einn lFigure 2 is janend elevation of the machine .shown on al largerscale;

Figure ,3 is a vertical transverse sectional View on the line 3-'3 of 1;"v Figure 4 is asimilar section on the line Figure 5 isa horizontal sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; i 1

Figure 6 is a front elevationof Fig. "1;

Figure 7 is across-sectional view showing the relation between the forming mandrel and dies, andillustratingtlie improved meth-` i od of simultaneously pressing the flutes and ermingthe column fromv a plain metallic sheet; l y "y Y Y "FigureS is a view lsimilar to Fig. 7, showing'the column completed'and ready for removal;` W

yinvention Will appear r*- rmnrnmA AND. FoRivriNG MAcirrNn 1928;; serial No, 294,33a*

Figures 9 and `10 are planand sidevievvs" i v"Figure 13 shows `modified arrangement 'of the frame of the machine, actuating meehan1sm5iand1ndentmg diebar.

y Y Mani/framed" n y In the drawings, Qrepresentsthe left-hand end frame ofthe machine "in which one end" of `the mandrel "is journaled in ajbearing 3,

{r1-rn melaninsommeil,:No.gorMINNEAroLrs, MINNESOTA, A conroRA'rroNor" '77 and 4 represents the right-handend traine which supports the removable bearing block 5, `for `supporting the opposite end of the mandrel. `Aseries ofintermediateframes 6 are interposed between the end frames 2 and 4, in numbers commensurate "with thev length i p All the" frames arenassembled upon, and rigidly se andsize ofthe columns-to be made.

Y of safety, thetensile and'compression stresses required `for forming the metal. The Ibea-inv base members 7 are preferably imbeddedin av suitable concrete foundation V12.

Form/ng mandrel and. clicsV Referring `"to Figs. 5 to `l, the y main body 14 of the mandrel ispreferably `formed out of one piece of high carbon `or manganese steel of sufcient length for the longest de!` sired column andof the `desired taper which i the column or post is to take;` It is provided at its largest end with the integral journal of the dies is determined by the number and j size of the fiutes required in the column. For reasons which will 'hereinafter appear,

one more of these die bars is provided than,

the number of flutes required in the column. The indenting die bar 19 is supported slightly above the mandrel 14, upon jaw members 20 provided upon the rocker arms 15, and coopera-te with the mandrel to complete one continuous flute in the material positioned upon the mandrel, for each cycle of opera tion. For reasons of structural and operative adjustments, the die bar 19 is preferably divided into a plurality of sections secured to the aw members 20 by means of holding bars 21. The movements of the jaw members 20 are simultaneous and equal in extent, and these members therefore constitute in effect, a unitary structure.

The holding bar 21 is adjustably mounted upon the jaw members 2O for accurately aligning and spacing the die bar 19 `with respect to the mandrel bars 18. Screws 22' and 23 and fastening bolts 24 provide means for thus aligning the bar 21. It will there fore be seen that the die bar 19 may be readily adjusted to the particular taper and diameter of the mandrel used for forming a Vcertain size column. A rocker arm 15 is arranged in each section between the several frames, and each arm is mounted upon a short shaft 25, journalled in bearings 26 in the 2, 4, and 6 frames. The die bar 19 (see Figs. 7 and 8) is provided with longitudinal grooves 27 and 28, forming an outward bending projection 29 and the indenting members 30 and 31.

As it has been found impossible to provide sumcient rigidity of a mandrel for the forming of one flute at a time in columns of considerable lengths, due to the stress being exerted in one direction, a most important feature of the invention consists in providing automatically operated mandrel supports at various points of the mandrel to receive and transmit the induced stress to the frame of the machine. For this purpose, a movable mandrel-supporting bar 32 is arranged lineally with respect to the die bar 19 on the side of the mandrel diametrically opposite from the die bar 19. This support is parallel with the axis of the mandrel and is arranged for movement to and from the forming mandrel between two guide bars 33. The guide bars 33 are spaced apart forming a longitudinal slot adapted to receive the supporth ing bar 32, and are secured together at each end by spacing blocks 34 and 35. (See Fig. 6.) The block 34 is pivoted to the main frame 2 by a pin 36, and to the block 35 is attached a rod or handle 37 slidably passing through the movable bearing block 5,

supporting the small end of the mandrel.

The mandrel-supporting bar 32 has a longitudinal groove 38, adapted to successively receive the beveled edges 39 of the die bars 18,` thereby dually supporting the mandrel and locking it against rotation while a flute is being formed at the opposite side thereof. The under face-of the bar 32 rests upon a series of tapered Wedge bars 40, supported upon the upper inclined surfaces of blocks 41, arranged upon the rigid stress-resisting frame 8. rEhe wedge bars 40 are connected by adjustable connections 42, to arms 43 mounted upon and secured to a longitudinal rocker shaft 45, journaled in bearings in the main frame members 2, 4, and 6. A spring 46 is attached to each arm 43 and tends to draw the Wedge bars 40 forward to raise the supporting bar 32 against the forming mandrel to support it in the raised position upon the frame 8, unt-il the wedge bars are forced back by operating mechanism hereinafter described.

Uponthe frames 6 are secured brackets 47, vertically adjustable by screws 48 and slots 49, and having integral guide plates 5() projecting into slots 51 provided in the holding bars 21 and die bars 19, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 7. rfhe guide plates 50 are provided with an indicating mark X and the curved under faces 52 of the guide plates 50, are formed to follow the circular contour of the mandrel, and are adjusted with a clearance above the upper edges of the mandrel bars 18 of substantially the thickness of the sheet metal of which the column is to be formed.

Actua/,tang mechanism,

The jaw members 20, carrying the die bar 19 are actuated by eccentrics 54, formed upon shafts 55, 56 and 57, and connected to the rocker arms 15 through eccentric straps 58 and pins 59. (See Figures 3 and 5.) The shafts 55, 56 and 57 are journalled in bearings 60 in the main frame members 2, 4 and 6, the ends of the shafts abutting at 61. The shaft 55 projects through the frame member 2 and to its outer end 62 are keyed cam disks 63 and 64. The journal 16 of the mandrel body 14 projects through its bearing in the frame member 2, and upon its protruding end 67 are rigidly secured a ratchet wheel 68 and a locking wheel 69. (See Figure 5.) A bifurcated crank arm is mounted for movement upon the hubs of the ratchet wheel 68 and locking wheel 69, and is operatively connected to the crank pin 65 of the cam disk 64 by the connecting rod 66 and pin 67. The crank arm- 70 carries a pawl 71 arranged to engage the teeth 73 of the ratchet wheel 68. The

` `locking wheel 69Lisprovided with radial reet l mandrel, as a result ofthe arms 43 being oscesses or slots 74, into which is adapted to`en-` ter, a locking bolt 7 5, adjustably secured to a lever 76,pivoted tothe frame member 2 at 77. vThe lever 76 carries on its lower end a.

roller 78,` whichV is `arranged to be enga-ged by the cam .disk 64. A tension spring 7 9, connected to the `lever 76 and frame 2, forcibly holds the locking bolt inengagement with the locking Wheel 69. i .4 f

A crank arm 80 rigidly Secured to the outer end ofthe rock-shaft 45, carrying the levers 43 for operating the mandrel supports. `A dependingarm 81 is pivoted upon theframe member 2 at 82and carries' a roller 83, en-` gaging thev cam disk` 63'. Arod 84 connects the lower end of this arm with the crankarm cillated-to move lthe wedge bars 40 to their retracted positions against the tension of the i pmions meshes Vwith a gear 94 firmly secured springs 46 during the periods when the mandrel is rotated. Thefollowing cutaway porT tion ofthe periphery of thecam 63 causes the shaft` 45 to be rocked' by the action of the springs 46,1thereby` forcing the wedge barsV 40 forward and moving the supporting bar S32-upwards against the under side of the forming'mandreh`` 4 Dri/ving and stopping mechanism.

\ Referring to Figures 1 and l2, the main driving shaft 86, mounted in bearings 87,

carriesfa driving pinion 87", a friction clutch 88 Aand a driving pulley 89. Thepinion 87 meshes with a gear99, secured to a shaft 91,

` journalledlin bearings 92and carrying a series of driving pinions 93. y Each one of these to one of the eccentricshafts 55, 56 Vand 57. The shaft 56 carries a calm disk 96 (see Figs. 1, 4 and 5) having a 'segmentalcam portion 97, adapted to be engaged byv an arm 98jpinned fast to a vertical spindle 99 that is vertically slidable4 in brackets v`100. A spring 101 normally holds thespindle in its lowestposition against a stop` collar 102, in which position the roller `of the arm 98 will be engaged bythefcam 97. A lever 103 projectsV under the lower end of the spindle 99, .and is,`

throiigh a short shaft 104, rigidly connected toa foot lever/105. `The upper end of the spindle` 99 is provided with a feather key 106 and passes `slidably through the huh of a forkedfclutch arm107, embracing the driving shaft 86. Links 108connect the'clutch arm 107 with the movable clutch collar 109 of the 1 a collar 111, .tends to clutch 88, and a spring110 bearing against force the clutch into operable position.

" Any suitable type of clutch may be employed, and wehave not;7 therefore, shown the clutchindetail. Itmay be stated, how- (not shown), looselymounted upon the shaft 8.6 `andconnected to the activestopping and startngmember of the clutch 88. a The con-` struction of this machineinaseries of short `'sectional units as shown in Figs. 1 to 8 and as hereinbefore described, `While convenient for manufacture and of value by `permitting an increased length ofthemachine and the production `of fgreater lengthof columns, 75

without'undue weight andvmaterial in the op-n erating parts for` their necessary rigidity, is obviously not essentialv for the carrying.` out of theprinciple of the invention.f

In Fig. 13 we have shown a umttypeof machine of simpler construction, but equalp ly within the scope of the main principles of the invention. The intermediate frame member 6 and the eccentric shaftv 57 are here dispensed with, and for the end frames 2 `and 4 are substituted the? raised housings 125 and 126, `in which are mounted the driving shafts. The eccentric shafts 55 and 56 are mounted` "in `bearings in; the` housings 125 and 126 respectively. The rocker arms 15 and `jaw members 20, holiding the die bar 19, are dispensedwith and the depending eccentric'straps128 are connected to cross heads 130, slidablebetween guide blocks 132. A single rigid beam 133 forms the support for the indenting die har 134, and is rigidly connected at its ends to the cross heads`130. `The driving, actuating and mandrel.supporting mechanism are sub stantially unaltered from that heretofore described.` p l e Operation of the machine AA sheet of metal lA,\cut tothe required length and form from which the desired column orpost will bemade, is placed by the operator between the mandrel bars `18 and the die bar 19, its forward `edge project`` ing under the guide plate 50 to the indicat` ing mark K f At' this time theparts are in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, with the driving shaft 86 'running idle, the clutch ever, that the `pinion87 is secured toa sleeve u 88 being in neutral positionzand all` actnating parts, stationary. vVith the` sheet A, l H

in proper position, theoperator depresses the foot lever105, raising the cam arm 98 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 4, thereby disengagingthe cam rollerfrom the cam 97and permitting the clutch spring 109 to move the stopping and starting member of the clutch 88 into operative engagement with the pinion 87"through the sleeve, not shown. Through the train of gears heretofore de scribed, theeccentric shafts 55, 56 and 57 are` i rotated at compartively `slow speed in the i direction; of the arrow' in Fig. 2; Atthe 32 against the forming mandrel. Continued rotation of the eccentric shafts and crank disk 63, moves the pawl 72 backwards, idling over the ratchet teeth, the ratchet wheel meanwhile being securely locked in place by the locking bolt 75, until, with slightly more than one hall1 revolution oi the crank wheel completed, its high tace C engages the. roller 78 and withdraws the lockingbolt from the recess 74 in the wheel 69. Slightly in advance ot this time, the die bar 19 assumes the position shown in Fig. 8, indenting on one 'side ot the up iermost bar 18, the iirst hair" of the iiute B, and a second lute C in the sheet which has then assumed the position shown by the dotted line in Fig. 7. lilith the completion of one half revolution of the eccentric shalts, the further rotation ot the mandrel will raise the die bar 19 out ot' contact with the sheet A, and the wedge bars 36 will be moved backwards by t-he high tace ot the cam disk 64 engaging the roller 83, permitting the supporting bar 32 to drop away trom the forming mandrel. Following this operation, the pawl 72, on the backward swing ot' the crank arms 70, will engage a tooth 73 in the ratchet wheel and rotate the .forming mandrel the space ot one flute or channel. rEhe parts are adjusted so that at the completion et the pawl stroke, the locking bolt o enters the succeding recess 74 ot the locking wheel, securing the mandrel agains movement during the next operation.

1t will be understood that the teeth 73 in the ratchet wheel 70, the recesses 74 in the locking wheel 69, and the die bars 18 in the mandrel body 14, are equal in number and uniformly spaced. The guide plates 50 project beyond the center line of the mandrel a n d during the rotation of the mandrel, the leading edge of the sheet A. is ted between the edges 52 and the uppermost die bar 18, and is then carried forward by this bar and under the curved faces 52 ot the plates which keep the ridge of each flute in contact with the die bar 18. while the sheet A is being raised to the full line position in Fig. 7. lf the foot lever 45 is held in a depressed position, the aforedescribed operation is repeated and at each descent ot the die bar 19, the mandrel is moved forward a step., locked in position and the support applied. rllhe rluted portion of the sheet is carried or wound around the mandrel during` the ascending stroke ot the die bar 19, and at the succeeding descending stroke. new surface is presented to the die bar 19 and another channel or flute is indented in the sheet. This operation is continued automatically in rotation until the column has been comple ed, as shown in Fig. 8.

Upon the release ot the toot lever 105, the spindle 99 and the cam arm 98 will drop; after which the cam 97 will engage the cam arm roller 95, and, by turning the spindle, will release the clutch 88 and interrupt the machine. Suliicient clearance spaces are provided between the die bar 19 and the body 1470i2 the mandrel, and the shapes of the die members 30 and 31 is adapted to transform the stress ot tluting to a minimum ol bending moments. To provide a uniform curve in the end portions B and D, the periphery oi the mandrel is provided with elevated sections E, against which the opposite edges B and D of the sheet A are fulcrumed in the lirst and last forming operation of the column. lt will be noted that during the making ot the iirst halt column, the supporting bar 32 will contact directly with the die bars 18 of the mandrel for its support, as in Fig. 7, but that, as the mandrel is rotated and the tluted sheet is wound around the mandrel, the ridges ot the flutes formed over the die bars 18 will enter the groove 38 in the supporting bar and shorten the upward thrust ot the bar. as in Fig. 8. This variation of 1n oven'ient is compensated for by the liexure and tension of the springs, which, during the forming periods, force and hold the bar firmly against the mandrel regardless of the absence of material on the bars 18 or the variations in the thickness of the material.

To prevent accidental overlapping of the ends B and D of the sheet A, during the linal impression, and for the further purpose of providing means for the removal trom the machine of the completed column, the forming mandrel is made of greater diameter than that required for the desired column. A gap 112 is thus left in the column which is closed by a subsequent operation of compression of the column to the required diameter before the welding of the joint.

Means are provided for the convenient removal of the luted column from the mandrel as follows: A table 114 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6) having guide ways 115 and 116, and a bracket 117 having a guide way 118, are secured to the end frame 4. (See Fig. 4). The bearing block 5. normally supporting the mandrel on the journal 17 is provided with a foot 120, fitting the lower guideway 115, and a head 121 fitting the upper guideway 118. In the bracket 117 is arranged an eccentric pin 122 upon which is supported a link or strap 123 embracing the journal 17 of the mandrel body 14. The longitudinal thickness of the strap 123 permits it to enter the gap 112 in the tinted column when the column is removed from the mandrel. When this is to be done, the eccentric pin is turned by means of its handle 124, which operation transfers the support of the mandrel from the bearing block 5 to the strap 123. The block 5 is then removed from the journal and its position in the guideways 115 and 118, and by means of the handle 37, moved in the guideway 11G to the position shown by dotted lines in rig. 4 mi ruil unes innig. 5. This new i ment swings the supporting bar 32-from bej Before the fluting and) forming operation,`

neath the smaller end `of the mandrel, and provides room under the die bar 19 for the Y removal of the fluted column fromthe mandrel. .After the columnhas been removed, the bearing block 5 is returned to its' normal j position on the-journal 17 and its support of themandrel restored by turning and lowerthe metal sheet` Afis'cut to the required v,le1igth,width and form, shown on a smaller scale. iniFigures 9 and 10. After the sheet such `as shown inFigure 9, has been `fluted and removed from the machine, it willassume the'formishown in Eigurell forming a column 135fwhose diameter or circumference is largerfthan the size actually required, be-v cause Aof the gap or slot 112 separating the oppositeedges Band D of the sheet` A. The column'is then placed in af compress-` ing apparatus, preferably comprising two or more .frames 136, each havingan upper concave surface 137 and provided with an arm 138, each having a concave surface 139. The arms 138 are mounted for .rocking movement upon a shaft 141, and has a. socket 140i provided at oneend thereof adapted to receive a ball 14A, terminally provided on a threaded rod142, having ahand-wheel `1&3 ony its up'- per end.` The threadedrod MC2-is mounted in an Vinteriorly threaded housing 145-inte` grally formed with the frame 136. By turning the hand-wheel 143 inione direction, the arm 138 will swing to the open dotted line position shown in Figure 12. j

When the `partially completed column .135 is placed in the machinefand engaged with the `concavesurfaces 137 and 139., thecolumn 135 may be compressed tothepredetermined diameter by rotationof the handwheel 143 and the threaded. rod 142. thereby forcing thearms 138 to the position shown `by full lines in `ligure 12. Theedges B and D `will then join andare securely weldedtogether the entire length of the column by blow torch or electric welding method. While this latter operation is`being completed, another sheet of material `may be passing through the fluting and forming machine in the manner heretofore described. lt will therefore be noted that the completeoperation "of forming the whole sheet metal column consists first inl fluting and forming the sheet material tothe form shown in Figure 11, after whichxthe partially lcompleted columnis placed in a machine shownin Figure 12, and its opposite edgesB andD united and secured by` such means as welding.

welding apparatus hereshowndoes not form the subject'matter of this application, `but has been shown and described as a necessary ele'- ment the complete procedure and method of fastening together'the edges Band D of the partially completed column or post" 135 shown in Figure 11, which we, together with the fiuting and forming machine here-shown and described, believe to be novelend de-` sire to secure by Letters Patent.` i

Vhile the `foregoing describes theexact construction of the fluting and formingmaw chine, obviously various changes and modifie cations may be made inthe construction with# out departing from the `princijiile and scope of the invention. Itis evident for example, that `instead of the sliding wedge bars 40for the intermediate support oftheman- "llhe construction ofthe compressingwand drel, rotatable eccentrics or cams might` be j i substituted` with substantially equal result,

and we do not therefore wish to `limit the claims to the exactv form of construction` shown and described;

Having thus described ourinvention, what weclaim as new and desire to secure by Let- 1. A fluting and forming machine comprising `a rotatable mandrel having longitudinally'disposed die ribs, a `movable dieibar `arranged adjacent tothe mandrel and between which and saidl` mandrel the sheetof material `to be formedmay be fed, means cooperating with the die bar for forming flutes in the sheetV as itipasses between the die bar i e and themandrel, actuating mechanism `for y periodically.` rotating the mandrel after a flute has been formed, and means cooperating with the `mandrel and said mechanism for retaining a fluted portion of lthe sheetin engagement with the mandrel as the latter `is rotated. i

` 2. A fluting and formingimachine com-` i prismg a mainframe, a `rotatable mandrel mounted-in said frame and having longitudinally disposed die ribs, a movable die bar arranged adjacent to the mandrel and between which and said mandrel the sheet of `material to be formedmay be fed, means cooperating with the die bar and the mandrel l for forming flutes in thesheet, means for rotating the mandrel and winding the lfluted portion `of the sheet upon the mandrel progressively to form a tubular column, a constricted support for one end ofthe `mandrel connected to the mainframe, land means for removing the column from the mandrelincluding a longitudinal gap in said column through which the `restricted support is passed when the column is removed from the j mandrel.v A i e 3. A machine of the'class described, comprising a main frame, a mandrel rotatably mounted in said frame and having longitudinally disposed die ribs, a die bar arranged adjacent to the mandrel and movably mounted in the main trame, a stress-resisting member arranged intermediate the ends or" the mandrel and on the side out the mandrel op )osite the die bar, means cooperating with the die bar and the mandrel for periodically mal-ring channels in a malleable sheet introduced between the mandrel and the die bar, and means for intermittently interposing a supporting` medium between said mandrel and said stress-resisting member.

4. A machine of the class described, comprising a main frame, a mandrel rotatably mounted in said trame and having longitudinally disposed die ribs, means including a movable die member adapted to indent ilutes between said die ribs in a malleable sheet introduced between the mandrel and said movable die member, a stress-resisting member arranged intermediate the ends of the mandrel and on the side of said mandrel opposite said movable die member, means for intermittently rotating the mandrel and winding the tinted portion ot the sheet around said mandrel, means for intermittently interposing a supporting member between said stress-resisting member and 'the mandrel, means cooperating with the supporting member for `periodically forcing said member against the die ribs of the mandrel, and space compensating means for forcing said supporting member against the tinted sheet when covering the die ribs, and thereby supporting the mandrel upon the stress-resisting member through the said tluted sheet.

5. In a machine ot the class described, the combination with a trame and a mandrel rotatably mounted in said frame and having longitudinally disposed and radially projecting die ribs, of a stress-resisting trame member, arranged between the ends of and adjacent to the mandrel, an intermediate supporting element arranged between the man drel and the stress-resisting member, a slotted member secured to the frame and in which the said supporting element is disposed and adapted to move to and from the mandrel, movable means interposed between said supporting element and the stress-resisting frame member for moving said supporting element against the die ribs of the mandrel and thereby supporting the mandrel upon the stresseresisting frame member, and interlocking means arranged upon said supporting element and coacting with said die ribs for rigidly holding` the mandrel against rotation.

6. In a machine ot' the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotatable mandrel journalled in said frame and having longitudinally disposed and radially projecting die ribs, means for indenting flutes between said die ribs in a malleable sheet introduced over the mandrel, actuating means for rotating the mandrel and progressively winding the tinted portion of the sheet upon and around the mandrel to form a hollow column, a stress-resisting frame member arranged between the ends of and adjacent to the man* drel, an intermediate supporting element arranged between the `mandrel and the stressresisting frame member, a slotted member in which said supporting element is disposed and adapted to move to and from the mandrel, means including slotted supports for a journal of the mandrel and tor securing said slotted member and the intermediate supporting element in place adjacent to the mandrel and whereby said element and member may also be moved laterally away from the mandrel.

7. ln a luting and forming machine, the combination with a rotatable mandrel and a main frame in which one end of said mandrel is journalled, of a movable journal box normally supporting the opposite end of the mandrehan auxiliary journal support connected to the main trame and adapted to support the opposite end ot the mandrel, and adjustable means including an eccentric for transferring the support of the mandrel from theV movable journal box tothe auxiliary ournal support.

8. In a fluting and forming machine, the combination of a main frame, a forming mandrel rotatably mounted in said frame, said mandrel having longitudinally disposed and radially projecting die ribs, a die member movably mounted upon the main frame and adapted to impress flutes in a plain malleable sheet as said sheet passes between the mandrel and said die member, actuating means for moving said die member relative to the mandrel, and means adapted to thereafter rotate the mandrel to feed the sheet a predetermined distance between said die member and mandrel.

9. In a fluting and forming machine, the combination of a main frame, a forming mandrel rotatably mounted in said trame, said mandrel having longitudinally disposed radially projecting die ribs, a die member movably mounted upon the main -trame and adapted to impress flutes in a plain malleable sheet as said sheet is passed between the mandrel and said die member, means for moving said die member relative to the mandrel, actuating means adapted to thereafter rotate the mandrel to feed said sheet a predetermined distance between said die member and mandrel, and means including a concaved plate for guiding the tluted portion ot the sheet upon and around the mandrel.

l0. In a machine of the class described, a mandrel, a supporting means therefor comprising a main frame having bearings for each end of the mandrel, a stress-resisting frame memberv arranged between the end bearings of the mandrel, an intermediate element movably arranged between` the mandrel and the `stress-resisting 'frame member, and means ior periodically thrusting said intermediate element against the mandrel and supportino` said mandrel upon thestress-resisting `trame member.

llfin .a machine oi the class described, va mandrel `supporting means comprising a main traine having a bearing for each end of the mandrel, a stress-resisting framevinembei arranged between the end bearings of` the mandrel, an intermediate element movably arranged between the mandrel and the stressresisting iframeinember, a variable space-lilling .wedge member interposed between said intermediate elementand the stress-resisting ira'me members, and means for periodically l thrusting said wedge members between said intermediate element and said frame meini connections between said guide Amember and v mandreha supporting means therefor com.

ber, tofsupport the` intermediate portion of said mandrel upon the stress-resisting frame member.

l2. Inra machine of the lclass described,.a mandrel, a supporting means therefor coma prising a main frame havingabearing for supporting each end of the mandrel, a stressresisting frame Vmember varranged between said end supports, an Vintermediate bar mounted for movement to and from the mandrel and arranged between the mandrel and the stress-i`esisting` frame member, a guide member in which said intermediate bar is adapted to move, interlocking means between the guide member and themain frame, and

said frame permitting lateral movement of said member and intermediate bar away from the mandrel.` i

13. In a machine of the class described, a

piising a main trame upon which the mandrol is supported at its ends, a stress-resisting :trame member arranged between the end supe `ports. or `the mandrel, stress-transmitting elements arranged `between the mandrel i and the stress-resisting frame member including a wedge and aspring under tension adapted to force said Wedge between the mandrel and the stress-resisting member, and means including a cam for periodically releasing said spring to force said wedge between the mandrel and the stress-resisting member to support the intermediate portion oit' the mandrel thereon.

14;. In a machine of the class described, a

mandrel, a supporting and locking meansV therefor comprising a main `frame upon Y which the mandrel is supported at its ends, a

stressresisting frame member arranged between the end supports of the mandrel, actuating means, movably mounted upon the main frame for 'periodically forming a flute in a malleab-le sheet introduced between said `actuating means andthe mandrel, and means4 for periodically thrusting arsupporting and locking element against they mandrel to lock -andmeans causing tlieluted portion ofthe sheet to be wound around said mandrel as the latter is rotated.V i

16. A machinefor forming fluted columns .i

from sheet `material, comprising a mandrel having spaced-apart longitudinal ribs in its periphery, a diemeinber having a longitudi- -L nally extending groove adapted to receive said ribs one at a time as the mandrel is rotated, and means causing the fluted-portion of thesheet to be held in engagement with the ribs on said mandrel whereby` said ribs will lcause the sheet to be fed between the mandrel and die member.

17. In a machine ofthe class described, the i combination of a mandrel having a support at each end thereof, a die membercooperable with said mandrel to form flutes ina sheetof materialied therebetween, means for periodicallyactuating saidmandrel, a stress-resistinember situated between said s upports,

and means adapted to be interposed between said mandrel and said stress-resisting meml ber adapted to provide a support for anin; terniediate portion of the mandrel each time the latter is at rest and said die member is ac` tuated. i Y

i8. A machine for forming fluted columns from sheet material, comprising a mandrel having longitudinally disposedspacedapart i'ibsin its periphery, a die member having a longitudinally extending `depending portion adapted tobe received betweenadjacent ribs and between which and said mandrel the material to be formed is fed meansfor ooerating said die member, and means for causing the luted portion ofthe sheet to be wound ies A iio around said mandrel when the latter is ro tated. f

19. machine for forming fluted columns from sheet material, comprising a 'mandrel having longitudinally disposed spaced ribs in its periphery defining longitudinal channels, a diemember having a portion adapted to be successively received in said channels and cooperating with said ribs to form flutes in the material fed between the mandrel and said die member, and means causing the fluted portion of the sheet to be held in engagement withl ribs on said mandrel.

20. machine for forming luted columns Cil from sheet material, comprising a mandrel having longitudinally disposed spaced ribs in its periphery defining longitudinal chunnels, e.. die member having an elongated portion adapted to be successively received in seid channels and Cooperating with said ribs to form flutes in the material fed between said mandrel and said die member, and means Y Causing the `liuted portion of the sheet to be heldin engagement with ribs on said mandrelv when the lutter is rotated.

In Wit-ness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 18th day of July, 1928.

JAMES eJESSEN. JAMES P. MARRIN. 

